Check out the links below, they’re the best business articles I read this week from other blogs:

• How to Write a Design Brief – want to hire a graphic designer to work on your website, logo, marketing materials, product packaging, etc. This is a great article on how to write a proper design brief for your designer.
• Content Optimization Tutorial: How to SEO your Content for Rankings
• Tips for Selecting a Business Name – Starting a new biz? Here are some ideas for picking a name.
• Need Funding for Your Biz? Look online – A review/round up of sites where small businesses can go for funding.
• 25 Killer Ecommerce Link Building Tips – Getting links is an important part of SEO, here are tips on how to get some.
• Is the Sales Rep as Good as Their Rolodex? Great list of questions to ask a sales rep before you start working with one.
• 12 Video Sharing Triggers – Want to create a video that goes viral? Check out this list of things that makes people share videos.

Since selling to retail is a common interest among artisans, I’ve compiled a collection of links that you may find useful that cover this topic (some I’ve shared in past newsletters, some are new)

• How to Find a Fashion Showroom to Represent Your Line
• How To get Your Work into Stores
• What A Rep Looks For When Picking Up A New Line
• Preparing to Pitch Retailers
• Things To Ask Potential Reps
• Pitching Retailers – What Retailers Want From You

Places to Look for Wholesale Reps*

• Erayo

• Great Rep
• Rep Hunter

*I am not endorsing the services above. I am just sharing these sites as a resource, but can’t speak to their effectiveness since I have never used them personally. If any of you have tried the services above and want to share your experience with them, please feel free to do so in the comments.